Bag.



T. T. GRASER.

BAG.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1, 1907.

Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

a u u c u can wamasyfiaser I/vi tn use:

THOMAS T. GRASER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

BAG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

Application filed February 1, 1907. Serial No. 365,215.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS T. GRASER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bags, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an. improvement in bags, specifically comprehending a means designed to form a permanent part of the bag structure and adapted to maintain a closed condition of the bags after manual arrangement of the bag in such condition.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of flexible strips arranged to form a permanent part of the bag structure and so disposed relative to the open end of the bag as to be folded in the folding of the bag walls to close the bag, the flexibility of the strips maintaining such folded condition against ordinary strains.

The invention will first be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bag in partly collapsed condition prior to filling, one wall being brokenaway to illustrate the ap plication of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a bag rovided with my improvement and in closed condition. Fig. 3 is a top edge view of one of the bag walls, showing the means for securing the flexible strips thereto.

Referring to the drawings, my improvement is designed for application to a bag 1, which, so far as the purposes of the present invention are concerned, may be of any material and in any size.

The invention resides primarily in securing upon the inner surface of one wall 2 of the bag, immediately adjacent the free edge thereof, a plurality of flexible strips 3, preferably of metal. The strips are preferably short wire lengths either flat or round, and are arranged in parallel s aced relation, coinciding at their upper on s with the free edge of thewall 2 and extending an indeterminate distance lengthwise said wall. TlfidStIlPS 3 are preferably secured in place by an overlying section of fabric 4, such as paper or the like, which beyond the strip 3 is secured directly to the material of the bag. The strips are thus concealed from view and, when t e free ends of the walls of the bag are interfolded, as shown in Fig. 2, the strips 3 act to maintain such folded relation and thereby secure the bag closed.

It is important that the strips 3 extend to the free edge of the wall 2 and that the fabric sections 4 be used in securing the strips in place. By the coincidence of the strips With the free edge of the bag, I arrange the securing means for effective use with only a nar-' row single fold of the bag walls possible through a full condition of the bag; while by the use of the fabric sections 4, I insure effective folding of the strips 3 without tearing the material of the bag, as, by folding the bag over and onto the bag wall not provided with strips a double thickness of material is arranged over the strips 3 to resist their tearing strain.

The location of flexible strips 3 is of particular importance in the present invention, that is to say they must be so relatively spaced as to include the greater portion of the bag wall between them, but they must be each located some distance from the proximate edge of the bag wall. It is in this arrangement that the particular efficiency of the invention resides, for the reason that in folding the bag the maximum distance between the strips must be afforded to provide the desired gripping portion, but more important the necessary distance of the strip from the proximate edge of the wall must be afforded in order to prevent the strip from cutting through the edge of the bag in the folding and also m prov1d1ng a marginal edge of the bag material beyond the strip which will protect the strip against rubbing in contact with extraneous ObJGGtS. If the strips were located at the edge, the interfolding of the Walls would of necesslty cause the strips to break through the thin material of which the bag walls are composed, while if the strips were located more closely adjacent the center the maximum handle effect would not be gained.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is The combination with a flexible bag, of two bendable metallic strips, each said strips being arranged immediately ad acent to but spaced from one side edge of the bag wall, the upper ends of said strips coincidmg with the free edge of'the wall, the lower ends of said strips being spaced from/the opposing edge of the wall, the distance between the strlps being in excess of the distance between either strip and the adjacent edge of the wall, and means secured to the inner side of the wall and overlying and concealing each stri whereby in the foldin of the opposing wa s together the strips are bent upon themselves to secure the walls in such folded relation, the disposition of the strips adjacent In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS T. GRASER.

Witnesses:

R. S. GRASER, A. M. SMITH. 

